Nnena Kalu has won this year’s Turner Prize, the UK’s most prestigious art award, becoming the first artist with a learning disability to receive the honour.
The judges described her work as “bold and compelling,” praising her vibrant sculptures wrapped in layers of ribbon, string, cardboard and shimmering VHS tape, as well as her dynamic, tornado-like drawings.
Kalu, 59, is an autistic artist with a learning disability and limited verbal communication. At the award ceremony, Charlotte Hollinshead — who has worked with her for 25 years — delivered a heartfelt speech, calling the victory “a major, major moment for a lot of people.”
“This is seismic. It has broken a very stubborn glass ceiling,” she said.
Standing beside Kalu, Hollinshead added: “This amazing lady has worked so hard for such a long time. It’s wonderful that she’s finally getting the recognition she rightly deserves.”